Trends in Mobile Communications presents the findings of an end-user market study focused on the current state of mobile communications adoption by physicians and nurses across the United States. The report uncovers strong opinions regarding the market opportunities and challenges for adopting mobile solutions to improve clinician mobility and responsiveness, enhance patient safety and reduce communications costs.

The content for Trends in Mobile Communications was derived from more than 100 in-depth interviews with physicians and nurses working in inpatient and outpatient environments nationwide. Clinicians interviewed were technically competent and representative of a broad range of medical specialties and institution sizes.

Spyglass conducted the telephone interviews over a four-month period beginning July 2006. The purpose of the interviews was to identify the needs and requirements for mobile communications solutions through discussions about:

Existing workflow inefficiencies in communicating with colleagues and patients

Clinicians are mobile warriors who are constantly on-the-go as they travel between their offices, exam rooms and the corridors of affiliated hospitals. They work in high-stress, data-intensive environments that are dominated by inefficient paper-based processes. As clinicians are taking care of more patients with higher acuity levels, it is becoming increasingly difficult to communicate with them in a timely manner.

Ideal mobile communications device does not exist. Clinicians interviewed do not believe there is an ideal mobile communications device. They are experimenting with a wide variety of devices including pagers, cell phones, smartphones and VoIP phones to improve their mobility and responsiveness and enhance patient safety. Each device has its own set of strengths and weaknesses that depend upon work environment, job responsibilities and personal preferences.

Clinicians carry multiple communications devices. Clinicians interviewed were carrying multiple communications devices. Multiple devices enable clinicians to manage communications with different groups of people or to address the needs of specific job functions. Clinicians need the equivalent of a utility belt to carry and keep track of these devices.

Clinicians lack standardized processes to collaborate with colleagues. Clinicians interviewed are having difficulties communicating with colleagues due to a dependency on paper-based workflows and a lack of standardized tools and processes to collaborate with colleagues across the continuum of care.

Clinicians have limited time to spend with patients. Clinicians interviewed are having difficulties communicating with patients because clinicians are overworked and have limited to time to spend with their patients.